Analysis
Hard days ahead for Serbia's gay PM
The nomination of Brnabic as Serbia's first gay prime minister is linked to party politics and pinkwashing rather than civil rights.
Analysis
So what if the Irish PM is gay?
Taoiseach's sexual orientation has grabbed headlines, but history shows that gay politicians seldom promote LGBT rights.
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News in Brief
- Seasoned finance minister takes over Dutch coalition talks
- British PM closes government deal with Northern Irish party
- Merkel on collision course with US at G20 summit
- Schulz outlines German election strategy, hits out at Merkel
- Berlusconi's party sees comeback in Italian local votes
- Low turnout in Albanian election set to mandate EU future
- Merkel and Macron hold symbolic joint press conference
- Juncker has 'no' clear idea of kind of Brexit UK wants
Feature
Gay rights at heart of Poland's value conflict
Anti-gay statements are part of an anti-EU narrative propagated by Poland's ruling Law and Justice party. But only a few politicians from the opposition are willing to challenge the image of Poland as a homophobic country.
Stakeholder
LGBTI activists and businesses fighting inequality together
Multinational corporations can play an important role in creating a more inclusive society, through the workplace.
Most EU states drifted backward on gay rights
Intersex rights are the new boundary for toleration of sexual minorities in Europe, as EU institutions urged to show more "political courage" to stop hate.
Gay, under-40 politican to rule Ireland
Leo Varadkar said his election as leader of the ruling part was an "unlikely story". He assured he would stick to the EU position in the upcoming Brexit negotiations.
Lithuania helps gay Chechens flee Russia
Linas Linkevicius, foreign minister of Lithuania, said his country issued visas to two persecuted Chechens and that an international effort was underway to protect others.
Liberals denounce EU parliament's 'anti-gay' bill
Liberal MEPs say a parliamentary position on protecting children from immoral content on the Internet could be used to discriminate against gay people.
Merkel and Putin fail to see eye-to-eye
German leader urged Putin to protect gay men in Chechnya, he said his police were better-behaved than some in Europe.
EP chief faces questions after homophobic 'summit'
Tajani was due to open a "summit" with anti-gay extremists in the EU parliament. He cancelled, but questions remain on why the event went ahead.
Malta to push for LGBTI rights in troubled times
Activists hope the EU presidency of Malta, a recent LGBTIQ champion, will help to put their rights higher on the EU agenda.
Commission 'shockingly passive' on Lithuania gay rights
MEPs express outrage after the EU Commission takes no action against Lithuania over an anti-propaganda law that discriminates against gay people.
Opinion
LGBT rights at stake in Georgia election
The Georgian Dream party says it is pro-EU, but its demonisation of LGBT people for the sake of a few votes is a retrograde move on Georgia's European path.
Interview
Hate speech costs lives, EU warns
Hate speech, whether homophobic or islamophobic, can prompt violent crime, justice commissioner Vera Jourova has warned in the wake of the Orlando and Jo Cox killings.
Opinion
Pride 2016: Let's not turn back time
EU politicians should attend gay Pride marches to stop illiberal forces in the EU from turning back the clock on basic civil liberties, such as the freedom to assembly.
What sort of civil society does Europe want?
Governments must be willing to hear critical voices; otherwise their desire to have an NGO sector is only lip service.
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Italy changes EU gay rights map
Decision to allow same-sex unions deleted last zone of anti-gay intolerance in western Europe. Lack of adoption rights left "bitter taste".
Homosexuality still seen as a disease in parts of EU
Most hospital staff in Bulgaria and Romania think gay people are mentally ill. A transgender woman was refused surgery by every hospital in Slovakia, a new study shows.
EU to sponsor gay rights boat, upsetting Hungary
The EU commission is going to sponsor a boat in Amsterdam Gay Pride for the first time ever. But Hungary has said that type of thing undermines its sovereignty.
Limited breakthrough for Italian gay rights
The Senate approved a bill recognising same-sex unions, but political manoeuvres led prime minister Matteo Renzi to scrap the green light for gay adoption.
Opinion
Dutch voters could derail gay rights in Ukraine
If Dutch voters stop the EU-Ukraine treaty in a referendum in April, they will help to stall the reform process. What will happen to Ukraine’s LGBT community?
Greece ends discrimination of gay people in civil union law
New law will allow gay citizens to enter into a civil union, which had been available to different-sex couples for several years.
Slovenia rejects gay marriage law
Almost two-thirds of people rejected a law on gay marriage in Slovenia’s referendum on Sunday, highlighting an east-west EU cultural divide.
Feature
No place for human rights in EU-Turkey visa talks
The EU has a formidable instrument to promote its values overseas: visa-free travel. It worked in Ukraine. But it’s not being used in Turkey.
Ukraine gives equal rights to gay workers, to please Brussels
The adopted legislation was a requirement from Brussels if Ukraine wants visa-free travel.
Gay rights vote undermines EU-Ukraine visa deal
Ukrainian MPs have voted down a gay rights law in a decision likely to kill chances of EU visa-free travel by the end of the year.
Stakeholder
Far from finished: Fight for LGBTI equality needs political will and activist spirit
Recent breakthroughs on LGBTI rights in Malta, Ireland, and Latvia shouldn't mask the fact that a lot more needs to be done to end discrimination in Europe.
Czechs and Slovaks not doing enough on Roma and gay rights
Council of Europe has condemned "continued discrimination" against Roma and says LGBT people should be given more attention.
Germany's equality paradox
Germany has among the best anti-discrimination laws in the EU. So why's it the main country blocking an EU-wide equal treatment bill?
Stakeholder
Keen on wedding invites; the EU can do more for LGBTI equality
The EU should not let itself be blinded by marriage equality confetti; we have a lot of work left to do.
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